Maharashtra Political Showdown: Shinde and Thackeray Exchange Venomous 'Anaconda' Accusations Before Mumbai Civic Polls

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has claimed the legacy of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, who is Uddhav Thackeray's father.

In Maharashtra, a heated political exchange featuring reptilian metaphors has emerged as Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde lashed out at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray ahead of Mumbai's civic elections, labeling him as the "real anaconda who swallowed Mumbai's treasury."

This sharp retort followed Thackeray's earlier comments where he referred to Home Minister Amit Shah as an 'anaconda' and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of undermining democratic processes, suggesting collusion with the Election Commission to manipulate electoral outcomes. Both the BJP and the Election Commission have strongly denied these allegations.

"The person calling others anaconda is actually the real anaconda himself," Shinde told reporters in Mumbai, criticizing Thackeray's performance during his tenure as Chief Minister. "He wrapped himself tightly around Mumbai's treasury and consumed the city's resources. The characteristic of 'anacondas' is their insatiable hunger... exactly like his," Shinde continued with evident frustration.

"This 'anaconda' consumed Mumbai's funds, seized land, took food meant for patients, and even profited from body bags," he added, referencing scandals that have plagued the Sena (UBT).

Shinde defended the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition's performance, highlighting ongoing infrastructure and development projects, including new deep-sea fishing vessels being commissioned for Mumbai's coastal communities.

BJP leaders joined Shinde in the reptilian rhetoric against Thackeray. State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule called Thackeray a 'python'. "The python resides in Matoshree (the Thackeray family residence)... not in Delhi," he asserted, suggesting that the Thackeray faction's rhetoric stems from their declining political influence.

"Uddhavji is no longer taken seriously in Maharashtra... he recognizes his party's diminishing prospects in upcoming local elections... he should examine himself in the mirror because he is the python who remains idle while criticizing the hard work of others."

Other Mahayuti coalition members reinforced this sentiment, claiming that Uddhav Thackeray's 'anaconda' outburst revealed his political insecurities before the Mumbai civic body elections.

The controversy originated at a Sunday rally led by Thackeray where he stated, "In a democracy, voters select their governments. But today governments are selecting voters," accusing the BJP and Shah of encircling the city and "swallowing" it.

This bitter exchange represents a new low in Maharashtra's political discourse, with the Shinde and Thackeray Sena factions engaging in increasingly personal attacks as the municipal elections approach.